Bobby pin dispenser



July 26, 1949. P. A. AvELLl BOBBY PIN DISPENSER Filed July 8, 1947 2 Shets-Sheet 1 July 26, 1949. P'. A. AVELLI l BOBBY PIN DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 8, 1947 JNVENToR. PH/L /P A. Ave-L4 Patented July 26, 1949 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE BOBBY PIN DISPENSER Philip A. Avelli, Richmond Bill. N.

Application July 8, 1947, Serial No. 758,511

(ci. 13a-4) 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a packaging and dispensing device, and is particularly directed to the packaging and dispensing of bobby-type hairpins.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple but effective holder for bobby pins that will permit a person, by the use of only one hand, to obtain a bobby pin in its opened position while the other hand is readying the hair for engaging the bobby pin thereto.

A further object is to provide a clean and sanitary holder for as many as forty or fifty bobby pins when not in use, and one that can be refilled without dimculty.

A still further object is to provide a dispenser which permits dispensing of bobby pins, one at a time, by operating a slide without jamming, etc., that is common among such automatic dispensers.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the detailed description and the drawings, wherein like references are made to designate like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of an embodiment of my invention with the cover and follower removed and a part broken away in order to disclose detail and show the normal position of the bobby pms.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of my invention as seen from the under side in Figure l, being partly in vertical section, with the side wall through which the bobby pins are loaded in the device disposed in its `opened position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3 3 oi Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the weight normally mounted within the dispenser on the stack of bobby pins.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the pusher slide.

Figure 6 is a perspective view in elevation of a modified embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a still `further modification of the present invention.

Figure 8 shows a special type package forma-intaining the bobby pins prior to their being inserted into any .of the dispensing devices shown herein.

As everyone knows, bobby pins are universally Y used by women for holding the hair in place, and

as the adjustment .ci the hair -into presentable condition is always a problem, it has occurred to me that the purposes of time saving and convenience may be 'served by having ve. special .dispenser 55 2 at hand for dispensing individual bobby pins so that it will not he necessary to pick these pins up from an irregular heap or to extricate them from a jumbled pile in a container. Ylis a result, I have succeeded in producing a bobby pin dispenser for dispensing bobby plus one at a time whenever desired, as will now be set forth more fully.

Hence, in the practice of my invention, Aand referring again to the drawings, a magazine-type bobby pin dispenser, generally 'indicated at I0, primarily includes a rear wall I I, a pair of Vopposite end walls I3 and I! secured thereto and vextending forwardly therefrom, and a front wall I2 which may either be hinged between the end walls I 3 and I4, or removable altogether when the dispenser is to be loaded with a stack of bobby pins. The U -shaped yoke VI'l is secured to the end wail I4 with the arms or `two opposite portions thereof terminating in a 4pair .of oppositely-extending flanges 11a, IIa. VIn orde-r to support the dispenser on a -wall or the like, a wall bracket I8, which virtually forms a .channel with the side edges turned inwardiy, has a plurality of apertures I9 through which screws may be inserted in order to secure the same to the wall in aposition to support the dispenser'in .convenient 'dispenslng position. f

Inasrnuch as the Vinvention does not reside in the U-shaped `infacllret slidexorv support I'I, the latter may assume various forms. so. long as it serves to secure the dispenser to the wall bracket To the rear wall I I are integrally secured'a pair of guide Vblocks 22 and 2i, which 4,extend vertically a-nd ane parallel, these blocks being spaced apart and rigid with the end walls. At the junction of guide block 22 withfwall i4, the block is formed with a rounded `iunction to accommodate the rounded heads or ends ,of the bobby pins, while to the opposite end wall I3 is secured a slide guide integral with the wall at v2| which is of substantially triangular .cross-section and spaced a slight ydistance from the rear guide block 25 in order to receive between the'guide block 25'and said triangular slide guide l.the end or toe of the straight 'les .of a Ybobby pinsnbstantially as apparent in 'Figure 1.. The other or dfverging .end or ,toe of the bobby pinwhichfis shorter than the straight les normally .fits rexteriorly .of the y triangular slide cuide ,so rthai-.1the'bobby pins may be received between 'the end-walls I3 `and I4 vwith the straight les :or portion slidably .located `against the blocks 2:2 .and 2.5 and the acute .angle .0f the triangular slide snide '3i -nroiectine between the two toes or ends. lo! the bobhypins :Isn order to cooperate with the guide blocks and slide guide just described, the removable or hinged front wall I2 is provided with a pair of inwardly-proj ecting guide ribs I5 and I6 which are spaced apart and spaced a small distance from the relatively adjacent guide block 25 or 22, respectively, to accommodate the bobby pins between said guide ribs and said guide blocks so that the bobby pins may be held inthe dispenser in a stack, one above the other. Y 1 ;1` f.' g

A base or bottom 23 is secured to the're'arwall I2 and extends forwardly to the front wall I I,

While also extending from beneath the end wall I4 the major portion of the distance-1 between* the latter wall and the end wall I3 terminating substantially beneath the inner end'of the guide when the guides I5 and I5 will prevent forward displacement of the bobby pins in the stack or of the weightV 23. As a matter of convenience, the dispenser has a cover which normally overlies the entire upper end thereof so as to conceal the guide blocks 22 and 25, as well as the slide guide 2 I, the rear wall I I and the end walls I3 and I4, this cover being secured rigidly to the front: wall I2 which serves as aclosing mem'- ber therefor'in a vdoublei`Se1isev. l :j

With the Abobby pins position, it is a simple matter to dispense a single pin from the lower end of the dispenser by shifting handle 26 toblock 25 in order to provide aspace 3551er dispensing the bobby pins individually.Y Externally tially half the distancefrom this wall to the d wall bracket I8 foa'purpose whichfw'ill immediately be Ye'xplained In"the"lcaseA or "bottom 23 is a longitudinal slot241which Aterminates outwardly beneath Y,the .end'l wall f'I4 andfat the other end a short distance -fi'omthe inner endV of the base Vor' bottom beneath the intermediate portion ofthe dispensen.v fUpon the 'base 23 is slid'- ably mounted a slidablepusher 2'IA which, as best seen in Figure 5,.has1'an'iendnotcli28 normally so located as' to receive the rounded end orhead portioniof the lowestibobby pin infthe'stack'ror series within .the dispenser, while. rigidly depending from the pusher 21is aiingerrpiece orY handle 26 through slot'24 lnbase'23, in such position that thishandle iszmaybe pushed along the slot towardguide block 25 'and end wall I3 in order to push the lowestY bobby.V 4pin from the stack toward end' wal lI3,and opening .35 in the bottom. To facilitate proper-.operation Vof the dispenser, a :ballastingstack weight-.23 (Figures 2, 3 andl 4)Y is Vadapted .to `lie Vdirectly ontop ofthe uppermostbobby pin in the Astack within the dispenser, this weight member fhaving a pair of slotsV `SI); 3| spaced apart and' cooperating with the verticalguide' ribs I 5; and I 6 on the front wall I2, while theY longitudinal extensionU 32 thereof extends a shortrdistance between. the twoguide ward .the end wall I3 and thereby sliding pusher ,23. with it to push the lowest pin in the stack toward end wall I3, when the pin may be grasped Vthrough opening and thus removed from the penser as a downward projection 2 Ia which nor-v mally-servesasla jstop for the bobby pins 4and facilitatesV downward dispensing thereof ifr'i'divid-V ually bycooperating with Vopening 35`to tendto direct the prongs or toes of the pin being Vdis-L.' pensed and spread suiiicientlyVv fromb'ott'om '323 to Abe accessible .ion removal thereo'i `'On the otherhand,` itv maybe Vnoted y'that the'end walls I3 Vand. I4, as'wellfasguideblocks 22,an'di25g' terminate a short# distance'. i above YKthe bottoml 23 which is equivalent to the Awi'dth-Jof 4/a"bobby pin when lying'flatuponl thefbo'ttom V23, the slight spacing of lthese members "from the' bottom thus providingV afclearance spacek Vboth` for 1thej sliding member 2l and for thebbby-pinbeing dispensed. It is thusV evident thatth operator is able to'gras'p thedispensedbobby pinlwith only two' ngers Vofon'e hand; for-example.' by means of the thumb and'foren'ger and "simulta-V neously able to use the Vother hand in position; ing and -holding the'hair in place to receivethe bobby pin.y Then the fperator Ynaturally fgrasps the handle '2B' and slides the-"same`b`ack'to its original operating position by Vpushing thadlei 26 to the right, as shown in Figure 2. Obvio'usly,`

members` 2I and'25 with .theghead portion or end c substantially envelops this member. along the ma.

jor portion of its heights. Thev package member 33 with its mountedLstack of'bobby pins Yis then slid intoplacewthln :the dispensen'while the front wall I2 isxeither. removed orrswung aside to allow access to ithei'nteriorbf the dispenser.' Thereafter; whilefone vhand-'is used-to retainl the;

bobby pins in place, the fingers "of the' other: handl are used to'` grasp tliel package member .or' core at thenotch'o'r depression. 34 a'n'd th'ecore member pulled upwardly until it is free from the bobby pins and completely extracted .fromthedispensen when the stack of will be in'. place;V The closing member' or wall- I2 may then be Vplaced in position between end walls I3 and I4 after hav-` ing duly loaded the stack with" the V.weight 23 Y the handle 25 is again used to shift sliding mem`` when. one -pinv hasV been Wdispensed,` `thest'aek weight 23 rforces `thenext ,-bobbypinr intodis pensng position,Y Tso' -'that i the; 'device filsV immedil ately-ready to"dispensfa further bobby pin when ber` 2 7 toward 'en 'd fwall I 3;a's lalready described. While f'a` 'stack' Weight 297'has7bee'n` described as used-Ato ballast v the stack v'vithi'n'*the dispenser;

it is obviousthatother' meansvmay be used'within the skin 'of-*those -familiar withtheart, while it isequally :true 'that -a` r'eturn spring may be connected to slidable pusher 2l torestrefit into its initial operativeposition if sofde'si-redf while `the form yof' the' invention' alreadyxdef l scribed is supported upon a"wall-braclet'l8, modicationis 'shown Yin-Figll'r'e wherein the dispenser 36 is mountedupon a baseB'I having an upwardly-extendingv supporting wall" '4L-directly supporting the di'spens'er. Inthis case," the internalstructure ffthedispenser 'as a'fwhole is substantially identical with -that already-'def scribed, but in reverse; that is; therwall1421`and end walls( 43 andv '441i havethe integallysecured" shaped slide guide 4l extends inwardly from'endY wallY 43, at the left.l Itmay '.be mentioned that in thisform'thebottom is'not necessarily'slotted inasmuch as 1 slot '48 isY provided inl wall f42 :and theslider or: pusher rwithin (not'shown) i's'com nectedthrough' slot Y 48`fwith an'. exteriorlyaccesssible- :handle 38:by which :to ,'dispense`V ,theA pins from the device. .The closure member formed by Wall 40 normally opposite to wall 4'2 and the cover 39 rigidly fixed to the upper portion of wall 40 is pivotally connected or hinged to the lower corners of the end walls 43 and 44 by means of pivot pins 49 so that when Wall 4Il!) is in closed position with respect to the end walls the cover 39 also covers both end walls and the guide members 45, 46 and 41, as Well as Wall 42. Upon the inner side of wall 4U are the two vertical guide ribs 50 and 5l vsimilar to the previously-described ribs i5 Aand I6 serving to hold lthe stack of pins in place Within the dispenser, the lower end of the triangular slide guide di extending at 41 below the bottom of the dispenser. v

In Figure 7 is shown a modification in which the internal structure is substantially as already described in connection with Figures 1 and 6, but in the dispenser generally indicated at 52 the end Walls `53 and 54 are secured to the wall 55 Which is provided with a mirror 55 upon the outside and upon the inner side With the guide blocks 51 and 58, While the end Wall 53 is provided With the triangular slide guide 59. In this form of the invention also the closure member 60 is hinged to the lower corners of the end walls 53 and 54 by pivot pins 6|, and is provided with the cover 62 rigidly secured thereto and beneath the latter upon the inner side of wall Bil are iixed vertical guide ribs 63 and 64 serving the same purposes as the previously-described guide ribs I5 and I 6. To the lower edge of the Wall 55 is hinged at 65 a compact 56 with a latch 61 adapted to engage with the notch 68 in the upper edge of wall 55. This form of the invention is intended to provide a small and compact bobby pin dispenser which has the added convenience of including the mirror and compact so that it Will be universally useful and readily carried in a ladys handbag.

The various forms of bobby pin dispensers of the magazine type which have been described may be made of cardboard, wood, metal or plastic, or any material that Will serve the purpose.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for dispensing bobby pins including a receptacle forming a magazine for receiving a holder carrying a stack of bobby pins, the receptacle comprising a side wall, a bottom and a pair of end Walls secured to the opposite ends of the side walls, the side opposite the latter and the top of the receptacle being open, the open side serving to receive the holder and the open top facilitating upward Withdrawal of said holder with the stack of bobby pins remaining in the magazine, a closure for the open side and top, means upon the interior of said side wall and corresponding means upon the interior of the closure cooperating therewith for receiving the bobby pins upon the bottom of the receptacle and retaining and guiding the bobby pins in a vertical stack, said bottom having a pin-exposing and dispensing opening, a manually-operable pusher slidable Within said receptacle adjacent to the stack in order to engage the extreme pin at one end of Said stack and propel the latter pin to the pin-exposing and dispensing opening, and a spreading means -for said pin disposed in the path thereof when propelled to said pinexposing and dispensing opening and holding the propelled pin in attained position for removal from said receptacle.

2. A device for dispensing bobby pins including 6 a receptacle forming a magazine .for receiving a holder carrying a stack of bobby pins, the receptacle comprising a side wall, a bottom' and a pair of end walls secured to the opposite ends of the side walls, the side opposite the latter and the top of the receptacle being open, the open side serving to receive the holder and the open top facilitating upward Withdrawal of said holder withl the stack of bobby pins remaining in the magazine, a closure for the open side and top, means upon the interior of said side wall and corresponding means upon the interior of the closure cooperating therewith for receiving the bobby pins upon the bottom orf-the receptacle and retaining .and guiding the bobby pins in a vertical stack, said bottom .having a pin-disposing and dispensing opening, a I manually-operable pusher slidable within said receptacle adjacent. to the stack in order to engage the extreme pin at one end of said stack and propel the latter pin to the pin-exposing and dispensing opening, a spreading means for said pin disposed in the path thereof when propelled to said pin-exposing and dispensing opening and holding the propelled pin in attained position for removal from said receptacle, and means making active contact With the other end of said stack and forcing the stack of bobby pins into effective position for individual propulsion by said pusher.

3. A device for dispensing bobby pins including a receptacle forming a magazine for receiving a holder carrying a stack of bobby pins, the receptacle comprising a side wall, a bottom and a pair of end walls secured to the opposite ends of the side wall, the side opposite the latter and the top or" the receptacle being open, the open side serving to receive the holder and the open top facilitating upward withdrawal of said holder with the stack of bobby pins remaining in the magazine, a closure for the open side and top, means upon the interior of said side wall and corresponding means upon the interior of the closure cooperating therewith for receiving the bobby pins upon the bottom of the receptacle and retaining and guiding the bobby pins in a vertical stack, said bottom having a pin-exposing and dispensing opening, a manually-operable pusher slidable within said receptacle adjacent to the stack in order to engage the extreme pin at one end of said stack and propel the latter pin to the pin-exposing and dispensing opening, a spreading means for said pin disposed in the path thereof when propelled to said pinexposing and dispensing opening and holding the propelled pin in attained position for removal from said receptacle, means making active contact with the other end of said stack and forcing the stack of bobby pins into effective position for individual propulsion by said pusher, and means sustaining said receptacle in a position allowing access to the pin-exposing and dispensing open- Ing.

4. A device for dispensing bobby pins including a receptacle forming a magazine for receiving a holder carrying a stack of bobby pins, the receptacle comprising a side wall, a bottom and a pair of end walls secured to the opposite ends of the side walls, the side opposite the latter and the top of the receptacle being open, the open side serving to receive the holder and the open top facilitating upward withdrawal of said holder with the stack of bobby pins remaining in the magazine, a closure for the open side and top, a pair of vertical guide blocks fixed upon the interior of said wall and a pair of vertical guide ribs spaced apart upon the interior of the closure serving to cooperate with the Vertical guide blocks .forreeiving the bobby pins uponthe bottom of the :receptacle and retaining and Yguiding the bobby pins inY a vertical stack, said bottom having ,a pin-exposing and dispensing opening, said receptacle having-a. slot therein, a manually-operable pusher slidableV within said receptacle adjacent to the stack in order to engage the extreme pin aty one end of said stack and propel the latter pin to the pin-exposing andV dispensing opening, a. handle upon said pusher extending through the last-mentioned slot intoV 'accessible position, a.V spreading means `for said pin disposed Vin the Vpath thereof when propelled to said pin-exposing and dispensing openingand holding the propelled 'pini in attained Vposition for rem'oval from said receptacle, a pressure means within the receptacle making active Contact with the other end of said stack Vand forcing the stacked bobby pins into effectivegpsition for individual propulsion by said Number Name 1,95,005 OBrien Jan.'241933 2,140,251 vSteger Dec. 13,11938 2,167,241 Katz July 25, 1939 2,250,303 Katz July 22, 1941 2,439,871);Y Sharp Apr."20,r194 8 

